Learn about the layout of your training program and how bodybuilding is NOT a one size fits all sport!
The Layout Of Your Training Program


Although I am by no means the size of a professional, I have a decent amount of muscle and cuts to warrant people around me to ask for training advice. In most cases, I tell them that bodybuilding is a very complex multi-factor endeavor. Then they usually ask, "What do you do, personally?"

That's when I give them a rough outline of what my workouts look like. Then when they ask me what type of training program they should use, my reply is, "Oh that's easy... you can do:
multi-joint compound movements
isolation movements
a combo of the two
compound exercises first, then isolation exercises
pre-exhaust
heavy weights and lower reps
high reps and light weights
heavy weights on compound movements
lighter weight on isolation movements
free weights
machines
free weights first to 'hit the heavy weights when you are fresh,' then machines
machines first to fully warm up the muscles, then free weights
supersets
trisets
giant sets
negative reps
forced negative reps
isometric tensing of the muscles between sets
peak contraction
cables
straight bars vs. cambered bars
doing an exercise standing vs. sitting down
cheat reps
preacher benches
cheat reps at the end of a set
wide hand spacing
close-hand spacing (and the same with feet)
training 6 days a week
hitting each body part once vs. twice a week
cardio before or after the workout
drop sets

same workout until you go stale
following the routines in all the mags and other sources verbatim
triple drop sets
multi-angular training
extension vs. pressing motions

Hey, that's it - see how simple bodybuilding is?" Grin.


Bodybuilding Is Far From Just A Simple, One-Size-Fits-All Sport!


What I am basically saying here is to try what other people do and incorporate it into what you, yourself, are productive with. Do you think Kevin Levrone and Frank Zane train the same way?

Hell, no - they individualize their training by borrowing from others and then stick with what works, and get great results - and that is one of the first things you should keep in the front of your mind when you engage in this activity.

Keep in mind that all of these techniques will work for somebody, for a certain period of time... Just experiment and see what works for you!


What'cha Looking For?


Are you just trying to have general fitness, impress people at the beach, fend off the meatheads that beat you up, look better in those clothes, get on a bodybuilding stage, model, up your lifts, be the strongest muthafucka in da gym, look fly in a club, improve performance for a sport, try to get big, be muscular, and/or defined?

The bottom line is, no matter what you wanna do, you gotta make a selection and run with it - and stick with it, or alter it (as necessary). If, for instance, ya wanna be muscular - size and sinew, as I call it - you will have to employ a workout program that allows you to realize muscle hypertrophy. You will also need to keep an eye on your nutrition, to keep track of body fat levels.